2009 Honorary Degree
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He has served two Indiana institutions of higher learning - Indiana University and Purdue University - for 37 years as an instructor and administrator. Bepko arrived at the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis in 1972, initially serving as a faculty member. He later became the associate dean for academic affairs and then the dean. From 1986 to 2002, he was chancellor of Indiana University Purdue-University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and vice president (Indianapolis) for Indiana University. In his last year as a university administrator, Bepko served as interim president of Indiana University.
A native of Chicago, he completed his undergraduate studies at Northern Illinois University. Bepko earned a juris doctor degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and a master of law degree from Yale Law School. Prior to IUPUI, he was a visiting professor at the University of Illinois, the Ohio State University and Indiana University Bloomington. He is a member of the Illinois and Indiana bar associations.
Bepko presided over significant progress in the history of IUPUI: a 25 percent increase in enrollment; a 400 percent increase in research support; physical consolidation of the campus to West Michigan Street and the addition of 20 buildings, including the university's library; and a capital campaign that raised more than $1 billion.
An ambassador for both Purdue and Indiana universities, Bepko was instrumental in bringing two Purdue schools to the IUPUI campus - the School of Science and the School of Engineering and Technology - along with seven Purdue degree programs. During his tenure, IUPUI expanded its school total from 14 to 23. Bepko also led a collaborative effort to establish a biomedical engineering program, and he personally established the Bepko Scholarship in Biomedical Engineering.
He has received numerous teaching awards, some of them bestowed by his students. He taught at least one course each year, even after becoming chancellor.
He currently serves as an at-large member for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and continues to teach, conduct research and remain involved in community service. Bepko and his wife, Jean, have two children, Gerald L. Jr. and Arminda.
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